Lexi Thompson shoots 63 to take LPGA Tour lead in Indy

Associated Press

Posted:
09/07/2017 09:18:02 PM MDT

Updated:
09/07/2017 09:18:32 PM MDT

Lexi Thompson hits her tee shot on the 9th hole during the first round of the Indy Women In Tech Championship-Presented By Guggenheim at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course on Thursday in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS — Lexi Thompson shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Sandra Gal and Kris Tamulis in the LPGA Tour's inaugural Indy Women in Tech Championship.

Thompson had 11 birdies and two bogeys to fall a stroke short of the Brickyard Crossing record set by Mike McCullough in the PGA Tour Champions' 1999 Comfort Classic.

"It was quite the early morning, so it was a bit cold on the range and struggled a bit on the range, but I just hit a few good drivers at the end," Thompson said. "I just committed to one thing going into the round and I think that's what made my day a lot easier on me. I just stuck to my routine and committed to my golf shots."

Gal, like Thompson, started her morning round on the back nine that features four holes inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gal hit 12 of 14 fairways in regulation in her bogey-free round.

"It's cool, it's funky. I really do like the course," Gal said. "I think it has really good challenges off the tee and the greens, and it's cool being inside the track. It gets a little bit windy in there actually. It's just so big, it's unbelievable to be in there."

Tamulis had the best afternoon score with four birdies on each side.

"I think actually just worrying about the hurricane makes me feel like golf's not a big deal, so I just hit it where I was looking, made some putts," said Tamulis, who lives in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Miguel Angel Jimenez fired a 6-under round of 64 to be in a three-way tie for the lead after the European Masters first round.

Aged 53, Jimenez had seven birdies and a single bogey on the picturesque Swiss Alps course to share the top of the leaderboard with 30th-ranked Tyrrell Hatton of England and Scott Hend of Australia.

Jimenez also competes on the senior tour and already holds the European Tour record as the oldest winner. At 50, his 2014 Spanish Open title was his 21st on the tour.

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